Makeup lovers in uproar over $88-off Sephora controversy

A branch of the French make up and beauty chain, Sephora, located in Times Square in New York on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Sephora is a brand of the luxury retail conglomerate LVMH. (�Photo by Richard B. Levine)

When beauty lovers spotted a discount code for makeup giant Sephora, they were quick to jump on it – but things quickly went down hill.

The $88-off promo code was apparently good on orders over $100, and customers were quick to snap up the unprecedented bargain.

Shortly after the promo took off on social media, Sephora issued a statement that they would be cancelling all orders using the coupon stating that it was not a valid promotion from the company and therefore would not be honoured.

Really disappointed in @Sephora@sephoracanada for not honouring the #88off coupon – it was accepted on your website, my credit card has been charged and my order processed, and THEN you cancel my order? Terrible client service.

As a rouge member… i have put in so much of my hard earned money to your business… the least you should be doing is running an honest business and owning your mistake. So ashamed to be a vib rouge member @sephora@sephoracanada#88off

@Sephora#88off here's the deal. You can make a serialized code so it can only be used once per winner. It's not customers' fault you chose not to do that. I get you can't honour 88% because margin $ but like 20% off maybe?? Cancelling and putting it on us is just bad business

Others said they’d be moving to other companies that sell the same high-end beauty products:

Really @Sephora? The amount of money I spend on your company annually and you can’t even honour the #88off to the people that caught it?? Is the $88 really worth losing the goodwill of your customers?????? Excuse me while I purchase my products from @Nordstrom or @HoltRenfrew now

I’m so sorry @Sephora customers, that the company isn’t allowing you to use a code that was never intended for you and for which you were not entitled to use. My heart hurts for that $20 you were charged and will be refunded. Good thing for waterproof mascara. #88off#sephora